Cameroon’s placement in Central Africa (rather than West Africa) is a result of colonial history, post-independence politics, and regional power dynamics. While English-speaking (Anglophone) Cameroon has stronger cultural and economic ties to West Africa (particularly Nigeria), the country as a whole was grouped into Central Africa due to the following factors:

A. German Kamerun (1884–1916) – The Origin of "Central" Positioning

• Cameroon was originally a German colony (Kamerun) from 1884–1916.

• The Germans administered it as part of their Central African territories, alongside modern-day Gabon, Congo, and Equatorial Guinea.

• This set the precedent for Cameroon being seen as a Central African colony rather than West African.

B. Post-WWI Split: French vs. British Rule

After Germany lost WWI, Cameroon was divided between:

• French Cameroon (80%) – Administered as part of French Equatorial Africa (AEF), a Central African colonial bloc.

• British Cameroon (20%) – Split into Northern Cameroons (Muslim-majority, closer to Nigeria) and Southern Cameroons (Christian-majority, closer to West African culture).

Key Turning Point: The 1961 Plebiscite

• In 1961, the UN organized a referendum for British Cameroon to decide between:

  • Joining Nigeria (West Africa)

  • Joining French Cameroon (Central Africa)

• Northern Cameroons voted to join Nigeria (West Africa).

• Southern Cameroons voted to join French Cameroon, forming the Federal Republic of Cameroon (later unified in 1972).

• This decision anchored Cameroon to Central Africa, despite Anglophone regions having West African cultural links.

2. Post-Independence Politics: Why France & Cameroon’s Government Preferred Central Africa

A. French Influence & the CFA Franc System

• After independence (1960), Francophone Cameroon maintained strong ties with France.

• France grouped its former colonies into two monetary zones:

  • West Africa (UEMOA/ECOWAS): CFA Franc (XOF) – Used by Senegal, Ivory Coast, etc.

  • Central Africa (CEMAC/ECCAS): CFA Franc (XAF) – Used by Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, etc.

• Cameroon was placed in the Central African CFA zone, binding it economically to Central Africa.

B. Political Centralization Under Ahmadou Ahidjo

• Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo, abolished the federation in 1972, creating a unitary state.

• This further reduced Anglophone autonomy and tied the country more tightly to Francophone Central Africa.

C. Nigeria’s Dominance in ECOWAS

• Nigeria, as the powerhouse of ECOWAS, had tense relations with Cameroon (e.g., the Bakassi Peninsula conflict).

• Cameroon’s government avoided ECOWAS to prevent Nigerian political influence over Anglophone regions.

3. Geographic & Economic Factors

A. Natural Trade Links to Central Africa

• Cameroon’s main ports (Douala, Kribi) face the Gulf of Guinea, serving landlocked Central African nations (Chad, CAR).

• Oil pipelines and roads connect Cameroon to Gabon, Congo, and Chad, not West Africa.

B. ECOWAS vs. ECCAS – Institutional Competition

• ECOWAS (West Africa): Dominated by Nigeria, Ghana, and Francophone West Africa.

• ECCAS (Central Africa): Includes Cameroon, Gabon, DR Congo, and Chad.

• Cameroon chose ECCAS to avoid Nigerian dominance and maintain French economic ties.

4. The Anglophone Problem: Why Some Cameroonians Feel "West African"

• English-speaking (Anglophone) Cameroon has cultural, linguistic, and trade ties to Nigeria.

• Many Anglophones believe they were forced into Central Africa against their natural regional alignment.

• The ongoing Anglophone crisis (since 2016) reflects frustrations over being marginalized in a Francophone-dominated system.

Conclusion: Why Cameroon is Central African (Despite West African Ties)

1. German & French colonial history placed it in Central Africa.

2. The 1961 plebiscite merged English-speaking regions with Francophone Cameroon.

3. France’s economic policies tied Cameroon to Central African institutions (CEMAC, ECCAS).

4. Political centralization under Ahidjo reinforced a unified (Francophone-led) identity.

5. Nigeria’s dominance in ECOWAS made Cameroon avoid West African integration.

Could Cameroon Have Been West African?

• Yes, if:

  • British Southern Cameroons had joined Nigeria in 1961.

  • France had included it in the West African CFA zone.

  • Nigeria and Cameroon had stronger economic ties.

But history and politics locked Cameroon into Central Africa, despite its Anglophone regions feeling more West African.